Líne 26:In English, the sun is comonly referred to in the masculine (compare it to the masculine sol in Latin). The word for sun in Irish is feminine and the pronoun used in the text referring to the sun is feminine. Thus, I use the translation her for the sun which may sound a bit strange to Engish speakers.

Líne 168:Léithchraig or Craiglea: A remarkable rock in the parish of Killaloe where the banshee Eeval is supposed to resideNote by Ó Foghlú quoting from The Tribes and Customs of Hy Many, ed. Dr. John ODonovan.

Líne 262:Ceardán or Cardinal, a cloak originally of scarlet cloth, with a hood, much worn by women at the beginning of the 18th century; so named from the similarity in shape to one of the vestments of a cardinal. At a later period the material as well as the color varied. Malcolm, writing in 1807 says the cardinal was almost of black silk richly laced.Note by Ó Foghlú

Líne 672:Fallaí fód, i.e. sod walls: Their houses are of several sorts; but the most common is the sod wall, as they call it. By sods you are to understand the grassy surface of the earth.Ó Foghlú quoting from Campbells (1778) Survey on Co. Tipperary.

Líne 882:Mad Sweeney: The literal translation of the line in Irish is: Waiting aimlessly on top of a branch, which doesnt seem to make much sense. However, I believe it is an oblique reference to Suibhne Geilt or Mad Sweeney, a seventh century king who, in the story Buile Shuibhne (The Frenzy of Sweeney), is portrayed as being driven insane by the din at the Battle of Mag Rath and who takes naked to the wilderness, living in tree topshence the reference. The exact phrase used by Merriman, ar bharr na craoibhe, is essentially the same as used to depict one of Sweeneys landing place in Buile Shuibhnefor barr na craoibhe sin. Cf.: Buile Suibhne, J. G. OKeefe ed., The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1952, pg. 12, lines 349-50.

Línes 987-8:Meidhreach meanmach a ainm is is aerach: lit. his name is merry, cheerful and airy. This is usually seen as a play on the poets own name, Merriman. Since Merryman was the commonly used spelling of his name at the time, the play on words becomes even clearer.